Fast-track immigration for seasonal workers: FARMS president

Feb 09, 2024

As the first of thousands of agricultural workers from Mexico and the Caribbean arrive in Canada, the president of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) says they should be at the front of the line if they want to permanently immigrate to Canada.

The organization's president Ken Forth, a Hamilton-area broccoli farmer, said almost 19,000 temporary foreign workers are expected to be placed at farms and greenhouses in Niagara and other parts of the province in the 58th year of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program his organization administers.

Through other similar programs, Forth said there may be as many as 35,000 workers in Ontario during the growing season.

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Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta